I love you!

As children, we are always told not to take life for granted. As adults this is always in the back of our mind but we don't seem to understand the meaning behind the statement and take life for granted anyway. The older we become, the more we get knocked in life and the more this meaning starts to make sense. Taking things for granted seems to be a human instinct.. We expect that we are always going to be here. We expect when we kiss our kids good night, that the next day we'll get to say good morning. We expect that terrible things don't happen to us. The older we become the more people we know that have had terrible things happen to them, and we begin taking less things for granted in life, until we forget the immediate flood of emotions and start to slip all over again.

You hear the sayings often, don't go to bed or leave the house angry, don't forget to tell the people you love that you do love them, never turn a hug away. All these things we forget and all these things we take for granted..

For the past 6 months I have watched my friend go through one of life's hardest journeys.. Watching her child battle cancer. For me Cancer is a big fear.. I mean we all know we can get it, it's the first thing we think when we find a lump, or get a headache, It's something we've all lost someone to or know someone battling it, yet we still take life for granted. Unfortunately last week my friend and her daughter lost their fight. After a roller coaster that included what would have to be the worlds shortest remission, the beautiful Princess Annabelle lost her fight and slipped away. The night before, her mummy knew it was their last night.. Far sooner then any medical professional anticipated. That day in fact, Belle as she's affectionately known even had a party with her nearest and dearest. This terrible tragedy has rocked me more then I thought it would. I knew this would be a sad affair, but I never anticipated that it would change me. Taking life for granted is a privilege that a lot of us have, but when we are reminded in ways like the above, we MUST learn from the experience. I am taking life a lot less for granted now and know that my beautiful friend has the battle of her life still, to get up after such a hard knock. This woman amazes me! I just don't know where she draws her strength from, but she deserves a medal.

Princess Annabelle, thank you for being the bravest person I think I've ever met.. I cry over a stubbed toe, you faced the fight of your life and still managed a smile, a twinkle in your eye, and a concern for others.. The strength of a child is far greater then any adult.. That's something else I have learnt. Whilst children are fragile, their lack of understanding of the real world, and the lack of making excuses, proves that they are strong, stronger then we expect, stronger then us!

So as the the title suggests.. Tell the people nearest and dearest to you, that you love them. 3 simple words that have such great meaning.. I love you..

Day 13

The clean up begins for those affected by flood waters!

Day 12

And the flooding worsens, now hitting our local CBD.. Never in my life have I seen this place under like it was!

Day 11

My town ravaged by a stream in the main street! Still seems so surreal!

Day 10

It seems rather ironic, that a few days earlier, I took a photo of my piano with the story about it and how precious it is.. it seems ironic that on Day 10 of this picture challenge, i once again use a photo of it, but in a very different situation :(

Day 9!

Unfortunately with the local natural disaster our area is facing, getting on here to post seemed wrong and was a little too hard! I did take a photo everyday, but unable to post them, so here is day 9..

Day 8!

For my 21st my mum gave me her piano.. she wanted a piano her WHOLE life, then in her 30's my dad got her this Antique piano estimated age of her is about 130 years or so.. it was her dream come true and she self taught the most beautiful melodies! I felt extremely special to receive this as a 21st present because I know how much my mum cherishes this beautiful old girl!

This beautiful old girl however, is the Bain of the men folks existence because, well SHE WEIGHS A TONNE!!! literally! so moving her from house to house is a mission that needs careful planning all on its own lol. She is so heavy, and seems to go into every house with out ever really having a 'place' to fit in! I am hoping to change this soon, when we move the house around with the new extension, I will be putting her into the new dining room, pride of place, she'll finally have a place, to be able to shine :)